Ben Murphy new head chef at D&D London’s Launceston Place

Murphy began his career at Koffmann’s The Berkeley restaurant, and has also worked at the three Michelin-starred Les Prés d'Eugénie in the south of France, the three-star Épicure Restaurant at Le Bristol in Paris, and the two-star Greenhouse restaurant in Mayfair. Koffmann remains Murphy’s mentor. 

Murphy - who won the Young National Chef of The Year (YNCOTY) contest in 2012 - opened his own restaurant, and first solo venture, The Woodfood in E18, in March 2016, aged just 25. He quickly gained accolades such as a five-star review from the late restaurant critic AA Gill, and a clutch of national newspaper awards.

Murphy will now create a new menu for Launceston Place, describing his style as creative, bold food inspired by France and London that he himself “wants to cook and eat”.

Part of the D&D London group from Des Gunewardena and David Loewi, Launceston Place is set within an 1839 townhouse, and aims to offer innovative menus and an extensive wine list.

Commenting on the move, Murphy said: “It’s exciting to be back working in West London…I feel now is the time where I can be more creative and show more of my own style…the menu will be based around the philosophy I grew up learning in both London and France; using simple seasonal ingredients yet maximising the flavour effectively.”

D&D London’s deputy chairman David Loewi said of the appointment: “We’re thrilled to have [Murphy] on-board, having been extremely impressed by his achievements, meteoric rise and most importantly, his food.”

D&D London’s restaurant and hotel empire includes sites in Paris, Japan, and New York, and in the UK includes Coq d’Argent, Bluebird, Le Pont de la Tour, the German Gymnasium, Quaglino’s, Sartoria, and Skylon.